Eco-Act 023: Stories from the fields

As we round out our waste series (for now), we thought we’d highlight a food waste story from our greater region that has local implications. Earlier this summer, Alysun Deckert — studio 3 elder and UWMC nutritionist — sent us an article about a former coworker who started a nonprofit (read: movement!) to redistribute food in our region at the onset of COVID-19. By partnering with farmers in Eastern WA who had surplus produce and community members all over the state, George Ahearn and co. began moving tons of produce, dairy, meat and other foods to create more food security in this time of need.

moving food

with community

Since its inception in late April, EastWest Food Rescue has diverted 8,000,000+ pounds of food and served 1,500,000+ meals. And it all started through serendipitous community connections. You can read more about their story and the heart behind this food movement in this UW Bothell article, or by visiting their website above. As our eco-act for this week, we challenge you to meditate on George’s words from the UW interview:

“It’s really just finding a way to connect the dots. I was amazed to see a potato give people hope and to bring tears to people on both sides — the donors and the recipients. A potato can give people purpose,” he said. “So, figure out what dots you have in your life and try to connect those and make it easier for someone.”

And isn’t that how it happens? We’ve seen the harvest and abundance of opportunity grow as we invest in relationships with those we live with, our neighbors, and community partners during this year. Acts of tending and keeping (our first vocation, according to Genesis) can be as simple as a potato — literally.

So what dots in your life can you connect around food security, waste, care for the earth, and ultimately, justice? Might there be an opportunity to cook an extra meal for a neighbor — on your street or from Compass House? Could you plant your garden this winter and coming warm season, planning to grow some excess produce to be used in Union’s various food ministries? Or maybe you might connect with EastWest Food Rescue by volunteering your time to let nothing go wasted.

Let us know what dots you connect and the ideas you might have that our community can help you grow.

Prayers of the People: October 4th, 2020

Jason Huff prayed The Prayer of the Chalice by Francis Nuttall on Sunday and encouraged people to pray it daily:

Holy One, to You I raise my whole being
– a vessel emptied of self. Accept, Lord,
this my emptiness, and so fill me with
Yourself – Your Light, Your Love, Your
Life – that these Your precious Gifts
may radiate through me and over-
flow the chalice of my heart into
the hearts of all with whom I
come in contact this day,
revealing unto them
the beauty of
Your Joy
and
Wholeness
and
the
serenity
of Your Peace
which nothing can destroy.

---

October Pastoral Word

Dear Beloved Family,

When James B read me this translation of Psalm 46:10,

“Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything” (The Message)

I felt stopped in my tracks! Yes, I’ve stepped out of traffic, for the most part, but do I take a long, loving look at our Creator, High God, and trust that God is with us in the everything we are facing?  Because EVERYTHING is in upheaval. This has been quite another week!

This passage does not give permission to disengage from the politics of our city and nation. We are to be citizens who take seriously our right to vote, to actively participate in our civil life and to be people who pray for justice and equity, seeking a post-colonized world.  It is a reminder to keep our focus on the One who breathed all into being and who holds all things together and who is with us from beginning to end.  The One whom we know through Jesus Christ, who looks upon us with compassion and love.

It is tempting to retreat and to question if any of our actions and decisions matter. In Eliana Maxim’s recent message on Matt 13, Jesus, the Storyteller,  she invited us to seek the spiritual truth in one another stories, often stories that are different than our own, that we might “find our place in God’s wild and remarkable story of life.” 

In the current struggles and heartaches and questions you are facing, may these weekly newsletters encourage you, dear family, that you are not insignificant, and you are not alone. Here you find stories of hope (such as a student being tutored in math) that invite us to listen, pray and ask, “how do these stories connect with my story of life?” As you read, trust that your story in this sacredly created world matters and is essential as part of a bigger story (this might be redundant and can be taken out)

Our scripture this Sunday is Matt 13:53-14:21, focusing on The Grieving Jesus Who Feeds Us. Please read the passage in preparation along with this song recently recorded by the worship band, The Road, the Rocks and the Weeds (near the bottom of page).

(This could be placed below)

In the hope of Jesus Christ,

Renée and James B

Eco-Act 022: A bit of sacrifice, with purpose, in hope

Imagine “a social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.” In this system, supplies of goods exceed demand, so tools such as planned obsolescence and advertising must be employed to create demand and sustain economic growth. What would you call this system? It’s consumerism, of course, and it’s linked to climate change. Or, as a June 2019 New Republic article title states succinctly: “Climate Change Is the Symptom. Consumer Culture Is the Disease.” And it’s a disease we need to cure if we’re serious about the health of our world.

But how can one person take on consumerism? The answer is complex—but positive, and urgent. It starts by understanding who that “one person” is in the context of economic power. According to James Dyke, writing in inews.co.uk, ”If [your household has a net annual] income of at least £30,000 [$38,700], you are one of the richest 10 percent of the global population and can row back on your consumerism. It’s those households … that are responsible for 52% of the carbon that was emitted into the atmosphere from between 1990 and 2015.”

fight consumerism

one decision at a time

So not only can we do something, we MUST do something, because we are dealing with a global economic/ecologic imbalance, and we’re on the side with influence. The “10%” described above fuels consumerism and enjoys its benefits, driving carbon emissions. The remaining 90% of the world’s population deals with varying degrees of poverty and enjoys less or none of the consumer lifestyle. To achieve quality-of-life gains, they actually need to consume more. As new Oxfam research states, climate change is associated with growing consumption among the “have’s,” not by poor populations rising out of poverty. It’s we who must act. What to do? In posts 016 and 018 we talked about the circular economy as an earth-friendly alternative to the linear “take/make/dispose” model that contributes to climate change and threatens our world. Our contribution to “circularity” includes recycling, but vital as this act is, even consistent, disciplined recycling cannot by itself compensate for the excesses of consumerism and address climate change. So we humbly offer "5 R’s” to prompt some thought about additional actions each of us might take:

1. Refuse/reduce: do I actually need that? Can I delay buying it, or buy less/fewer? Can I rent or borrow or barter for it? Can I take fewer/longer vacations instead of shorter/more frequent trips? Can I substitute a vegetarian meal for a meat-based meal once a day?

2. Reuse/repurpose/reclaim: can worn-out sheets or draperies become rags, towels or rag rugs? Can I build my deck with reclaimed lumber? Am I doing everything I can to stop wasting food? Can I walk or bike more to reduce driving?

3. Repair: can an item’s life be extended through careful repair? Do I know someone who can reweave a tattered wool blanket, for example?

4. Recycle/return: am I doing everything I can to responsibly recycle? Can I return an item, clothing or electronics, for example, to the seller or through a city program?

5. Relocate: okay, it’s a stretch, but it’s an “r,” and it’s meant to suggest relocating something I own to someone else via sharing or donating.

You get the idea. My small sacrifices joined with your small sacrifices, made with purpose, in hope, can moderate consumerism and make a difference.

A final thought: businesses, especially profitable ones, may not rush to change what works for them just to benefit the environment. We, as consumers, acting responsibly, intentionally, collectively, have to tell them to do so by what we purchase or decline to purchase. We can do this!

T&J Edition 9: God's Love & Voting

Over the last growing number of years, I (Nichelle) have been learning what it means to be a member of a community. To be one of many, to see the whole rather than the individual parts, to be the Church and the Body of Christ rather than just one member of the church. It has been one way to de-center myself from the story, and to develop eyes to see that while I am loved by Christ, so is everyone in the Body, the community, the city, the world. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. I am not the focus of God's love story, but WE are. Together. 

The community that I am part of is bigger than Union, my neighborhood, or even Seattle. It crosses boundaries, country and state lines, skin color, and economic, education, and racial demographics. I am part of a community that is grieving the unjust deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd (and the continual miscarriages of justice refusing to hold officers accountable), a community that is seeking refuge and a safe harbor from political and social terrors, a community that is experiencing the devastation of climate change, and I am part of a community that perpetuates oppression and a community that suffers under that same oppression. Their pain is my pain, for in Christ we are One Body. "For God so loved the world..."

As this election season looms before us, I am repeatedly reminding myself of this. This community is diverse. It is made up of Democrats and Republicans, Black, brown, and white people, Christians and non-Christians, Mid-Westerners, Southerners, East Coasters, and Pacific Northwesterners. There are as many different ideas as there are people in this community, but we, together, are loved by a God that was willing to give His one and only Son so that we would not perish but have eternal life. If He loves us that much, how can I show love for us? "For God so loved the world..."

At the start of Luke 4, Jesus is in the wilderness for 40 days where he is tempted by the devil with power. Jesus withstands the devil's temptation, and in the following story, Jesus returns to Galilee "in the power of the Spirit" where we next see him preaching at the synagogue in Nazareth. Having just been tempted to have all the power and authority in the world, the next teaching by Jesus is this:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus shows us that power and authority is irrelevant to the heart of God, rather God is concerned with justice for the poor and oppressed, healing and restoration for those that have endured pain and marginalization, and proclaiming hope. The world that He so loved includes us all, especially the people often relegated to the margins, ostracized from society for various reasons, living without a security net. Looking at this passage through the lenses of 2020, I wonder what would be the good news to the poor today? Affordable healthcare? Mental health services, affordable housing, a living wage? What would freedom for the prisoners look like? A criminal justice system that seeks reformation rather than perpetuates mass incarceration? Eliminating the inequitable bail system that disproportionately impacts the poor and people of color? And who are the oppressed and how could we set them free? Could it be the Black and Native American communities, who have experienced oppression from the inception of the United States? Communities that are crying out, asking to be seen, heard and believed when they share their daily existence with racism, violence, and economic disadvantages? Could freedom for the oppressed look like reducing over-policing, eliminating the school-to-prison pipeline, confronting the implicit bias that says Black people are dangerous, and ensuring that every person has the right to vote? "For God so loved the world..."

How we love our community and world will look different for each of us. But Jesus provides us the lens and the foundation on which we can view building relationships, advocating, marching, volunteering, and voting. In this current moment, voting is so important. PLEASE VOTE. It is a privilege and right that we are granted to speak into our community, to clarify who and what is important, and to participate in making our society a more just place.  Jesus has shown us who is important to the heart of God. Let us vote through the lens that He provides, voting for the poor, the prisoner, the blind, and the oppressed. "For God so loved the world..."

* * *

Things to consider when voting with a community lens:

• Do the people being voted into power represent the diverse community they are representing? Voting for a person of color or woman will create space for diversity, and provide opportunities to shape policies that fit communities better.

• Study the candidates’ positions and viewpoints on issues of social justice (to include voting rights, climate change, immigration reform, gender equity, school-to-prison pipeline, justice reform, etc.)

• When voting on a community referendum, consider the impact of that bill on the families living in South Seattle. Talk to people that look different from you and hear their opinion, and/or read up on the subject in the South Sound Emerald.

• Do you feel confused about terminology like "defund the police"?  Learn more about it (here is a video), and listen to people from communities of color talk about why this is important (listen to this podcast, Seattle Now: Trusting the Police).

* * *

LEARN

• Learn about the impact that COVID and systemic racism are having on food insecurity here in Seattle "Food Insecurity spikes sharply among Black and Hispanic families" 

• Join Foxy and Jason Davison in their Love Not Fear discussion group, October 17th @ 3PM, where they will be taking a deeper dive into incarceration through a panel with three youth who are overcoming incarceration. Register here. 

ADVOCATE

• With many kids attending school virtually this year, we need to advocate to the USDA to ensure kids have access to healthy meals throughout the school year 2020-21. Take action here. 

ACT

• Register to vote! You must be registered by October 26th, register here. Vote early to make sure your voice counts.

• Join Union tomorrow, Saturday September 26th at 10AM, for a time to pray for our community and particularly for justice to reign. Zoom link here.

• Donate to the CD Housing Project / Barbara Jean Foundation, and help to provide affordable housing for families in the Central District by off-setting their housing costs for rent and utilities.

• Food insecurity is only increasing! Please donate your time or money to your local food bank, or join the Union burrito-rolling team on Saturdays. Contact Adrienne for additional details. 

--
Truth & Justice Studio MISSION STATEMENT :: Truth & Justice creates space to educate and mobilize people by lifting up marginalized voices as catalyst for social change. We are a community within Union Church in Seattle, WA. 

Eco-Act 021: Simplicity

Over the course of the last six months, most of us have had to think about organizing our lives differently.

Whether our calendars have been full or empty on Zoom or in other physically distanced social settings, for the most part we’ve become less busy. Working from home — and really doing everything from home — has made for a slower pace of life in a lot of ways. Less commute time, more time with those we live with (for better or worse…mostly for better we think!!), more time to be present to each moment in the form of a meal without scrolling or a prayerful morning cup of coffee. There’s a certain re-balancing and peace that has been found in this period of reorienting and reframing.

This time at home has also made it evident that we don’t really need all the stuff that we’ve accumulated. Clothes, junk drawers, shoes, and furniture have been cleaned out (for some, multiple times). We’ve down-sized our stuff and passed it on to find a loving home elsewhere. Hopefully, by trying Ridwell, donating to your local Goodwill, or even redistributing your goods to some community organizations (see our current list here), we have also reduced waste. The circular economy does seem to be alive and well as more of us are at home.

emptying

to find life

Though the last six months have been difficult, there have been some bright spots…living simply being one of them! Though somewhat of an inevitable in quarantine, this principle is one thing that has also been held as one of the positives that many of us hope will stick around after COVID is over. And it’s got spiritual significance too. From the desert mothers and fathers, to St. Francis of Assisi, to even the Amish today, there is precedence for Christians to empty of themselves (kenōsis…see Phil. 2:7) of their “own power and desire on behalf of the other” — very Christ-like and incarnational indeed (Introducing Eco-Theology, 194). We would argue too, that we become more ourselves — more of who God calls us to be — when there are less clutter and distractions, and more love for God and our Beloved Community.

Here are some ideas to practice more simplicity:

• Reflect — breathe and contemplate this Richard Rohr reflection on Wendell Berry…also, check out Fr. Rohr’s series on Simplicity here.

• Relationality is key — in this time of physical distance, check in on neighbors, friends, and family that you haven’t connected with in a while. Phone calls and snail mail are encouraged!

• Take a sabbath — including from screens!

• De-clutter — go through your stuff and find items new homes.

• Support your neighborhood — frequent your local school, butcher, coffee shop, gas station, etc…and invest in relationships there.

• Mindful movement — take a walk outside or do some gentle stretches to simply be present to all that is around you.

So what are some ways you’ve been living more simply, especially in these last six months? We’d love to hear in the comments below!

Eco-Act 020: Combatting future fires and smoke, now

Most people see the link between climate change and the dangerous, tragic wildfires that have engulfed the West Coast this season. The King County Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) specifically names the increased potential for wildfires, along with heavier rains, hotter summers, reduced snowpack, increased flooding and rising sea levels, as climate change features that will impact all of us. Denying this or failing to act aggressively now all but guarantees disastrous consequences for our individual and collective futures.

Fortunately, the SCAP deals with climate change reality on three fronts: reducing greenhouse gases; working for equity across diverse neighborhoods; and realistically preparing for climate change impacts. The plan lays out specific government actions for doing so, including policy changes, tighter regulations, community engagement initiatives, and capital investments. But what can we as individuals do? How can we support the larger-scale efforts undertaken by the government, and for that matter, private business?

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which is shrouded by thick haze from wildfires in Washington and Oregon. (Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle Times).

We can start by carefully reviewing our current efforts to see if we’ve missed any opportunities, and then step up our game wherever and whenever possible. To aid this review, we can think through one or more frameworks:

• Daily/regular routines — methodical recycling, careful water use, and avoiding food waste, for example … is there any room for improvement in these or other areas? How about minimizing the plastic in our lives, and properly disposing of what’s unavoidable?

• Occasional, bigger-ticket expenditures — for upcoming major home improvements, can energy-efficient windows, EnergyStar appliances, and reclaimed wood, or “wood” made from plastic, be used? Can electric or solar power replace fossil fuel in the plan? Might the next vehicle be electric?

• Reduce-reuse-recycle — actually, is that next vehicle necessary at all? Can we drive less by biking, walking, taking public transport (when that’s safer again), and by combining multiple errands into a single trip? How about donating, swapping, or repurposing containers, fabrics, furniture, tools, books, … any opportunities here? Eliminating e-waste is another vital action.

• Avoid, reduce, replace, remove/sequester—this framework appears in the SCAP, and the frameworks above cover most of the same ground. What pops up in the SCAP scheme, however, is reforestation efforts and carbon sequestering, which we might contribute to through volunteer tree-planting projects and composting.

  • Other forestry work includes the movement to learn from Native peoples’ land management practices such as controlled burning, as well as allowing Native folks’ access to their land if it’s been taken away. Here are some WA Native perspectives from a Crosscut article from 2019, otherwise come chat about this with Kitchen Table Conversations on Tuesday nights!

Many or all the actions noted above and more have been covered in other of our Eco-Faith blog posts. What’s a little frustrating about all of them—and human-scale acts in general—is that they all feel so small, so futile, so laughably undersized compared to fires that consume millions of wooded acres, and smoke visible from space, blanketing whole states. How are we supposed to find hope and a sense of purpose in our tiny gestures? One way is to remember that we do not perform these acts alone. We merge them with the acts of a community that includes everyone touched by the fires and smoke, everyone capable of empathy, everyone concerned for our environment, and our neighbors first/most impacted by climate change (people who are unhoused, BIPOC communities, folks incarcerated, farmworkers). Our small individual actions on behalf of the environment become community acts of faith.

small acts

are communal

Collectively, could these actions yield a fire-and-smoke-free 2021? Not likely. But our actions performed intentionally and consistently in community, and in conjunction with government and business, might begin a process of correction and restoration. We need to do what we can, with hope. And really, whoever seriously thought that five loaves and two fish could feed five thousand people?

---

Both art collages are by Miriam / @vientoxsol on Instagram (link to post by clicking on the photo). The second collage depicts a CDCR prisoner firefighter, flames, and butterflies. In the wake of the fires in CA, the state has been severely understaffed as a large number of their crews come from CA prisons that are currently battling COVID-19. As these crews are only paid $2-5 per day, many have called for rightful pay. Recently, CA Gov. Gavin Newsom overturned a law that barred prison firefighters from joining CALFIRE, even though they had direct experience in the field.

The top collage depicts the hands of farmworkers surrounded by tomato plants, flames, and butterflies. Farmworkers work throughout the seasons and have continued working even with fires nearby and smoke dampening air quality in CA and the PNW. Learn more from United Farm Workers.